{"id":4730,"date":"2011-06-03T06:35:40","date_gmt":"2011-06-03T10:35:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/?p=4730"},"modified":"2011-06-03T06:46:16","modified_gmt":"2011-06-03T10:46:16","slug":"duanwu-festival-%e7%ab%af%e5%8d%88%e8%8a%82","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/duanwu-festival-%e7%ab%af%e5%8d%88%e8%8a%82\/","title":{"rendered":"Duanwu Festival (\u7aef\u5348\u8282)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An ancient Chinese festival.<\/p><\/div>\n

The traditional Duanwu Festival<\/strong> (\u7aef\u5348\u8282 – du\u0101n w\u01d4 ji\u00e9) falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, which is June 6 this year. Also commonly known as the Dragon Boat Festival<\/strong> (\u9f99\u8239\u8282 – l\u00f3ng chu\u00e1n ji\u00e9), this is one of the oldest Chinese holidays, dating back to 278 BC. Before we get into the modern customs of this Chinese festival, let’s examine some of its history:<\/p>\n

History<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Qu Yuan - a patriotic poet. <\/p><\/div>\n

<\/strong>Although it is said that the holiday originated around the desire to prevent diseases and health hazards associated with the summer months, the modern history of the Duanwu Festival centers around one man – a poet named Qu Yuan<\/strong> (\u5c48\u539f – Q\u016b yu\u00e1n). He lived during the Warring States Period<\/strong> (\u6218\u56fd\u65f6\u4ee3 – zh\u00e0n gu\u00f3 sh\u00ed d\u00e0i) of China (475-221 BC), and he served the King of the State of Chu<\/strong> (\u695a\u56fd – chu gu\u00f3). When the King of Chu decided to join forces with the State of Qin<\/strong> (\u79e6\u56fd – q\u00edn gu\u00f3), however, Qu showed his opposition. As a result, he was accused of treason, and was banned from the kingdom he had loved so dearly. While in exile, Qu traveled, taught, and wrote poetry expressing his ideas. Some of his most famous works include “Heaven Asks<\/strong>” (\u5929\u95ee – ti\u0101n w\u00e8n),”Nine Pieces<\/strong>” (\u4e5d\u7ae0 – ji\u01d4 zh\u0101ng), and his most famous, “The Lament<\/strong>” (\u79bb\u9a9a – l\u00ed s\u0101o). This masterpiece is mostly about his lamentation at the gradual decline of the once-powerful state of Chu.<\/p>\n

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Some of Qu's most famous pieces.<\/p><\/div>\n

Some years later, when the State of Chu was finally taken over by the State of Qin, Qu Yuan was so distraught that he held onto a large stone and threw himself into the Miluo River<\/strong> (\u6c68\u7f57\u6c5f – m\u00ec lu\u014d ji\u0101ng), committing suicide. As Qu fought for what he believed in and was willing to die before he sacrificed his values, it is said that his spirit has become a symbol of the noble and persevering spirit of the Chinese people.<\/p>\n